Automatic focus control device

ABSTRACT

In an automatic focus control device of a camera there are provided defocus amount calculation means for calculating a defocus amount for a predetermined focus plane of a photographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electric signal generated by a light receiving means, comparing means for comparing the obtained value on the basis of the calculated defocus amount with a reference value, control means controlling driving speed of the photographic lens by the lens driving means in response to the comparison result of a comparing means, photographic condition setting means for setting the photographic condition and reference value setting means for setting said reference value in response to the set photographic condition.

This is a division of prior application Ser. No. 374,590, filed on June28, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,250, for an AUTOMATIC FOCUS CONTROLDEVICE which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 247,079, now abandoned,filed on Step. 20, 1988, which is a divisional U.S. Ser. No. 032,738,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,856 filed on Mar. 30, 1987 and issued on Mar.28, 1989.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an automatic focus control device of acamera, particularly to an automatic focus control device in which aphotographic lens is moved in various kinds of modes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There has been already proposed a focus detection device for use in acamera in which two images are formed by focusing light bundles whichcome from an object to be focused passing through a first and secondareas of a photographic lens and of the camera which have symmetricalrelation to an optical axis of the photographic lens each other and themutual relationship of the two image positions is calculated and theamount and the direction of the defocus of the image from thepredetermined focal plane can be obtained. Thus, it can be detectedwhether the image position is in the front side or in the back side ofthe predetermined focal plane, in other words, in front focus conditionor in rear focus condition. The optical system of the focus detectiondevice mentioned above is shown in FIG. 1, wherein the optical systemcomprises a condenser lens 6 located on a predetermined in-focus plane,at the back of a photographic lens 2 located further behind said focalplane 4 are two re-focus image lenses 8 and 10 behind of the condenser 6and two image sensors 12 and 14 of CCD light receiving elements on thefocal plane of the re-focus image lenses 8 and 10 respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the images on image sensors 12, 14 draw near eachother close to an optical axis 18 in case of the front focus conditionin which the image of the object is focused in the front side of thepredetermined focal plane, and the images on the image sensors 12, 14are respectively focused in the position apart from the optical axis incase of the rear focus condition in which the image of the object isfocused in the back side of the predetermined focal plane. In case theimage of the object is focused in the focal plane, the distance betweentwo corresponding image points on the image sensors 12, 14 correspondsto a predetermined distance defined by the structure of the opticalsystem of the focus detection device. Accordingly, the focus conditioncan be theoretically obtained by detecting the distance between the twocorresponding image points on the image sensors 12, 14.

In an automatic focus control device of a camera, comprising the focusdetection optical system mentioned above, there has been used amicrocomputer for performing various camera controls such as theintegration of the brightness value of the object by CCD image sensor,the calculation of the focus detection or the calculation of the defocusamount and the defocus direction using the CCD image sensor output, thelens movement corresponding to the calculated defocus amount stoppingthe lens movement in the in-focus position and the shutter releaseoperation.

When the photographic lens is shifted near the in-focus position, theautomatic focus control device repeats the sequential automatic focuscontrol operation consecutively and executes a consecutive automaticfocus control so that the in-focus condition can be correctly setfinally.

By the way, in the automatic focus control device mentioned above, incase the object is closing to the camera or going far away from thecamera, even if the automatic focus control operation is performedcausing the photographic lens to be moved to the in-focus position onthe basis of the detected defocus condition with one time focusdetection, the camera can not be set in the in-focus condition for theobject because the object is moving during the automatic focus controloperation.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relation between the time of the horizontalaxis and the defocus amount on the photographic film plane in the cameraof the vertical axis. In FIG. 3 a curve 1 shows a change of the actualdefocus amount on the photographic film when the object is closing tothe camera, and a line m shows the defocus amount obtained by convertingthe object distance of the photographic lens controlled by the automaticfocus control device into the corresponding defocus amount.

Periods of time for taking in the object data in the microcomputer arerepresented by A to D in the middle of the respective integration timesof the image sensor respectively. In FIG. 3, T₀ denotes a center pointof the first integration time and D₀ denotes the defocus amount at thetime period T₀. The time interval between T₀ to T₁ is the necessary timefor the calculation of the focus detection from the center point T₀ tothe end of the integration time. When the movement of the photographiclens is completed, the photographic lens is stopped and the nextintegration during the time periods T₂ to T₃ and the calculation duringthe time period T₃ to T₄ are executed. At the time T₂ of stopping of thephotographic lens, the object has already moved and the defocus amount_(D) -D₀ has occurred compared with the defocus amount at the time T₀.At the time T₃ the data of the object is taken-in and at the time T₅ thedefocus amount (D₂ -D₁) is calculated and the movement of thephotographic lens is finished. At this time T₅ the object has alreadymoved and even if the movement of the photographic lens is finished, thedefocus amount (D₃ -D₂) is occurred and increases larger than thedefocus amount at the time T₂. Similarly in the following, at the timeT₈ the defocus amount is (D₅ -D₄), at the time T₁₁ the defocus amount is(D₇ -D₆) etc. the photographic lens goes far away from the in-focuscondition and a delay of the tracking of the photographic lens againstthe movement of the object occurs in spite of the automatic focuscontrol operation whereby a shutter release operatibn in the in-focuscondition can not be completed.

The tracking delay of the lens under the automatic focus control causesa problem especially in case there is adopted an interchangeable havinga long focal length, lens such as a telephoto lens having a slowfocusing speed.

The applicant of the present application proposed one way of solving theproblem mentioned above. The summary of the way is explained withreference to FIG. 4. Assuming that three defocus amounts DFB, DFC andDFD respectively at respective times of integration I2, I3 and I4 areshown as DFB<DFC<DFD, the next new defocus amount is calculated byadding the difference Z between the defocus amount DFD and the defocusamount DFC, whereby the tracking delay for the moving object can bereduced. In FIG. 4 the defocus amount at the time of stopping thephotographic lens or at the time of starting the integration 15 can bereduced from X to Y by adding the difference Z between the two defocusamounts DFC and DFD.

However, in the proposed way mentioned above, only the delay of thedefocus correction can be compensated. This means, however, that theproposed way is effective only to prevent an excessive correction of thedefocus, therefore there sometimes occurs that the revised defocusamount is not sufficient. Judging from the defocus amount it can be seenwhether the speed of the movement of the object on the film plane isfast or slow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An essential object of the present invention is to provide an automaticfocus control device for use in a camera system in which a photographiclens can be automatically set in an in-focus position even if an objectto be defocused is moving.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic focuscontrol device for use in a camera system in which the photographic lenscan track correctly a moving object so that an in-focus photograph canbe readily obtained.

The present invention is provided for calculating the correctcompensation of the defocus amount by giving a value to the compensationand the amount of the compensation is calculated as the amount of themovement of the object per one cycle of the calculation of the focusdetection and the value is added to the defocus amount, whereby thetracking ability can be improved. And in the next cycle, the lens is setin the in-focus condition. However, in case the moving speed of theobject is faster than the focusing speed of the photographic lens, or incase the object is moving with an acceleration, the camera is not set infocus condition but the tracking ability for the object in the presentinvention is higher than the tracking compensation way mentioned beforesince the movement of the object is detected.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operator, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams showing the principle of the focusdetection,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing the principle of the trackingcompensation of the prior art,

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment according to the presentinvention,

FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) is a flow chart showing the action of the deviceshown in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a graph showing an off-set of an event counter of the focusdetection device,

FIGS. 8 to 24 are flow charts showing the actions of the device shown inFIG. 5,

FIG. 25 is a time chart showing the relation between the possibility orimpossibility of a movement integration and the motor driving control,

FIGS. 26(a) and 26(b) ahd 27 are flow charts showing the variations,

FIGS. 28 to 31 are diagrams showing the principle of the trackingrecision according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Principle of theInvention

FIG. 28 is a graph for explaining the principle of an example of thepresent invention, in which the vertical axis and the horizontal axishave the same meanings as shown in FIG. 3. When it is judged on thebasis of defocus amounts D5, D6 at the time period P1 during the periodof stopping of the photographic lens that a delay of the shift of thephotographic lens to track the moving object (referred to as trackingdelay hereinafter) occurs, a tracking compensation is ordered at thetime P1 by the calculation C6 of the integral time I6 and thephotographic lens is not stopped at the time period P1 but moved to apoint Q2 for an amount WR of compensation of the lens shift (referred toas compensation amount). The compensation amount WR is represented bythe defocus amount on the photographic film plane corresponding to theamount of the movement of the object along the direction of the opticalaxis of the photographic lens of the camera. The amount of the movementof the photographic object is preliminarily converted in terms ofinclination per a unit cycle TI of the focus detection operation.

In FIG. 28, it is regarded that the next time of the moving of thephotographic lens is TI and the photographic lens can track the movementof the object within the time period TI at the latest. The possibilityexists that the object moves at such a high speed that the photographiclens is needed to be moved more than the compensation amount WR withinthe time period TI. In this case tracking delay occurs but in case thephotographic object is not moving in an extremely high speed, thephotographic lens can be set in the area which can be deemed as anin-focus condition. In this example of the tracking compensation,however it is assumed that the amount of the movement of the object isrepresented by a simple function of the defocus amount on thephotographic film plane, actually for example, in case the object isclosing to the camera in a constant speed, the defocus amountcorresponding to the movement is not represented by a simple functionbut by a high dimensional function. Also in this case, even if thedefocus amount is revised by tracking, the amount of compensation isinsufficient but since the photographic lens is set in the in-focusarea, it can be said that the photographic lens is tracking. In FIG. 28,the proposed position of compensation is a center point P3 of theintegration time 18.

Since the photographic lens is not moved from the time of the centerpoint P0 of the integration time I6 to the end time P1 of thecalculation C6, during this period the tracking delay of thephotographic lens with respect to the object occurs. Accordingly, theamount of this delay and the amount of the delay during the movement ofthe lens (in this period one cycle of the integration and calculation isincluded) should be considered. In other words, in case the object movesand a tracking delay occurs during stopping of the photographic lens, itis necessary that the defocus amount is revised at the time P1 expectingthe movement of the object from the integration I6 to the center pointof the integration I8 through 17. In this case, the necessary amount ofthe compensation of the defocus amount to be added is 2WR at the pointP1.

The center point P3 of the integration I8 has a generally same meaningas the desired time point P2 where the result of the next data 17 comesin seeing from the point P1, that is, since the integration time isshort, the desired points P2 and P3 are regarded as P2≃P3. It takes 50 msec. for the calculation C but below a few m sec. for the integration 1.

FIG. 29 shows the case of judging on the basis of the defocus amounts D3and D4 that a tracking delay occurs for the object at the time P4 duringthe movement of the photographic lens. Furthermore, FIG. 29 shows thecondition that the photographic lens is moving under the condition thata tracking compensation is consecutively performed while thephotographic lens tracks the object under the tracking mode, includingthe case of judging to enter in the tracking mode during the stopping ofthe photographic lens. In case the control operation goes to thetracking mode at the time P4 and the compensation is ordered, thephotographic lens is moved up to such an extent as to the defocus amountcalculated based on the data obtained in the integration time 13, andeven after the movement of the photographic lens is completed, thephotographic lens is not stopped at the point Q1 but is moved the amountof 2WR. As well as in FIG. 28, the designation point of the compensationis the center point of the integration I7 near the point P6 where theresult calculated based on the data of the next integration 16 isobtained. The period from the center point of the integration 14 wherethe tracking delay is detected to the center point of the integration I6equals two cycles of the focus detection and calculation. This meansthat the amount of the movement of the photographic lens is revisedcorresponding to the amount of two cycles in the period of one cyclewhen the next result of the integration is obtained. Subsequently,similar operation is repeated , however, in case the movement of thephotographic lens can not compensate the defocus amount, that is, incase the amount of the movement count added by a compensation is largerthan the predetermined count value in the tracking mode, the shift speedof the photbgraphic lens is switched. In FIG. 29 the shift speed of thephotographic lens is switched at the point Q2. Even if the shift speedis switched, the compensation value and the destination value is notchanged. In case the photographic lens reaches the in-focus position forthe object and the direction of the photographic lens is reversed by theresult of the calculation, the tracking compensation of the movement ofthe photographic lens is stopped.

With reference to FIG. 30, there is explained the way of calculating theinclination per a unit cycle TI of the focus detection for the movementof the object in the direction of..the optical axis of a camera.

In FIG. 30, the unit cycle of the focus detection are S1˜S2, S3˜S4,T1˜T3, T1'˜T3' etc., which are consecutive and are regarded as the sameperiod with respect to the same object. The present position is in thecalculation C3 and the defocus amount obtained by the former integrationis LERR, which is calculated at the time of T3. ERR denotes the defocusamount calculated by the present integration, and the defocus amount ERRis obtained at the time T3'.

The defocus amount corresponding to the amount of the movement of theobject per a unit cycle or the inclination WR is obtained as followsreferring to FIG. 30,

    WR=ERR+ITI-LERR,

wherein ITI is the amount of the movement of the photographic lensduring the period from the last integration to the present integration.A relative lens position in the central point of the last integration isobtained as 1/2 of the sum of the positions of the integration startingtime T1 and the integration ending time T2. The values T1 and T2 are thevalues that the defocus amount LERR at the time of S1 is converted intothe count number of the movement of the photographic lens during thecalculation C1 and is set in a event counter. On the other hand, afocusing encoder is set in the photographic lens and when the lensmoves, a pulse train is generated from the encoder. The pulse signalline is connected to the input of the event counter and the eventcounter counts down every time the pulse signal is transmitted to theevent counter. Therefore, the shift amount of the photographic lens canbe obtained by reading the value of the event counter, and the shiftamount are expressed as T1 and T2. The center point of the lastintegration is obtained as follows

    (T1+T2)/2=MIL,

With reference to FIG. 31, the case is explained that a camera shutteris released during the automatic focus control operation :n the trackingmode mentioned above. In operation of the present invention, thephotographic lens is moved in a release time lag in order to improve thelens tracking ability. That is, in the period from receiving of arelease signal to starting exposure at a period of time of the reflexmirror-up in a single lens reflex camera, the photographic lens ismoved. In the mirror-up period mentioned above, according to the focusdetection way using the light received through the reflex mirror, thefocus detection, integration and calculation can not be executed sincethe reflex mirror is in a raised position. Therefore, the amount WS ofthe movement of the object is preliminarily calculated during themirror-up operation. Assuming that a release time lag is RTS,

    WS=WR×RTS/TI,

which is the amount of the tracking compensation and the photographiclens is moved and stopped before the exposure depending on the amount WSof the tracking compensation. After the exposure on the film, when thereflex mirror is dropped down, the film winding of a predeterminedlength of a frame is automatically started and the shutter charge isstarted. It is not necessary that the winding is performedautomatically.

Assuming that the camera is set in a release priority mode in which thecamera shutter release can be performed with a priority under thecondition that the camera is not in the in-focus condition and theshutter is released before the photographic lens is focused. As aresult, a blurred photograph will be taken. However, when the camera isin a continuous advance mode, it is desirable that the photographs takenafter the first photograph become in-focus state. Hence, during themirror-down in the period the integration and the calculation can not bestarted before the mirror is settled at the bottom position, thephotographic lens is moved only the amount corresponding to theinsufficient amount for the focus input settlement at the time ofexposure before the integration is started. In FIG. 31, the photographiclens is stopped at the time of starting of the integration, but theintegration may be executed simultaneously with the lens moving.

SPECIFIC FEATURES OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 5, there is provided a microcomputer 21 for the camerasequence control and the calculation used in the camera. An exposurecontrol circuit 22 controls opening and closing the shutter respectivelyin response to exposure starting signal and ending signal fed from themicrocomputer 21, mirror-up operation and diaphragm control operation inresponse to a mirror-up signal. A light measurement circuit 23 convertsan analogue signal corresponding to the brightness value of the objectinto a digital form and sending the digital signal to the microcomputer21. A film sensitivity reading circuit 24 detects the film sensitivityand converts the film sensitivity information in a digital form to sendit to the microcomputer 21. An one frame winding circuit 25 controls afilm winding motor (not shown) for winding one frame of a photographicfilm installed in the camera (not shown) in response to a signal fedfrom the microcomputer 21 and stops the film winding motor when an oneframe winding detection switch S9 is turned on. A setting circuit 26 isprovided for setting an aperture value and a shutter speed of thecamera. A pulse generating circuit 27 generates one pulse when a releaseswitch S1 is turned ON or OFF. An interface circuit 28 is disposedbetween CCD 29 and the microcomputer 21 for controlling of starting andfinishing of charging in CCD 29 corresponding to the signal from themicrocomputer 21 and for analog to digital conversion of the data fromCCD 29 and transmitting the data to the microcomputer 21.

A motor control circuit 30 is provided for controlling a lens drivemotor M for driving a focusing component including the photographic lens(not shown) for the focus control in response to the signal fed from themicrocomputer 21. 31 is an encoder for monitoring the rotation of thelens drive motor M, which generates sixteen pulses every time the motorM rotates one rotation. A lens circuit 32 is disposed in thephotographic lens, sending peculiar data of each lens to themicrocomputer 21. A auxiliary light emitting device 33 acts to emit alight beam toward the object at the time of the focus detection. 34denotes a display circuit for displaying the focus detection condition.A timer 35 generates a release signal at a predetermined interval in thecontinuous advance mode in which the consecutive photograph is repeated.E is a power source battery for providing a power source directly to themicrocomputer 21, switch as mentioned below, a reset resistor R_(R), areset condenser C_(R) and a transistor Tr1 for supplying. The voltage ofthe battery is supplied via the transistor Tr1 to other circuits exceptthe above mentioned circuits.

The function of the various switches used in the circuit arrangementshown in FIG. 1 is hereinafter explained. The release switch S1 isturned on when the release button (not shown) in the camera is depressedto a first stroke and the microcomputer 21 executes an automaticfocusing routine AFS as described below in response to turn on and turnoff of the release switch S1. A switch S2 is turned on when the releasebutton is depressed to the second stroke which is longer than the firststroke, whereby the microcomputer 21 executes the release routine shownin FIG. 20a as described below. A switch S3 is turned on at the time ofmirror-up completion and is turned off when a shutter release member(not shown) of the camera is charged by winding the photographic film bythe one frame winding device 25. A switch S4 selects either a one shotmode in which when the photographic lens is reached to its in-focuscondition once, the focus detection thereafter is stopped holding thephotographic lens in the in-focus position or a continuous mode in whicheven if the photographic lens is once focused, the focus detection iscontinued. A switch S5 denotes exposure mode setting switch forproducing 2 bit signal which is transmitted to the microcomputer 21. Thecontent of the 2 bit signal changes depending on the set mode. Thecamera of the present embodiment has four kinds of exposure control modesuch as a program mode (referred to as P mode hereinafter), a diaphragmpriority mode (referred to as A mode hereinafter), a shutter speedpriority mode (referred to as S mode hereinafter), and a manual mode(referred to as M mode hereinafter).

A switch S6 switches the modes between a release priority mode in whichthe shutter release is given priority regardless of focus condition anda focus priority mode (referred to as AF priority mode hereinafter) inwhich the shutter release is permitted or inhibited depending on thefocus condition. A switch S7 is an end terminal detection switch fordetecting any one of the states that under the photographic lens isdriven during the focus detection the photographic is moved to a nearestfocusing position, or a farthest focusing position or the infinitedistance focusing position. Upon turning on the switch S7 themicrocomputer 21 executes the end terminal processing routine asdescribed below. A switch S8 switches the continuous advance mode andthe one frame advance mode, and a switch S9 is turned on at thecompletion of the exposure and is turned off at the completion of theone frame winding of a film.

In the circuit arrangement shown in FIG. 5, when the power sourcebattery E is installed in the camera, the power is applied to the resetresistor R_(R) and the condenser C_(R) and a signal ranged from Lowlevel to High level is input to a reset terminal RE of the microcomputer21, which executes the reset routine (RESET) shown in FIG. 6. First, themicrocomputer 21 resets and initializes flags and output ports in thesteps #5 and #10. Next, the auxiliary light emitting device 33 is turnedoff, eliminating the display and the driving of the photographic lens isstopped and in case the photographic film has not yet been wound by oneframe long, the motor for winding the photographic film is driven so asto fully wind up the photographic film by one frame long and thetransistor Tr1 for applying power source is turned off when the windingof the film is completed in the steps #15 to #30. An auxiliary lightflag for memorizing the emission of the auxiliary light is reset and theterminal 0P3 of the microcomputer 21 is changed to Low level and themicrocomputer 21 is stopped in the steps #35 and #40. The steps #15 and#40 mentioned above are enabled when coming back from the step #55.

When the release button is depressed to the first stroke after the powersource battery E is installed in the camera, the switch S1 is turned onand the microcomputer 21 executes the program from AFS shown in FIG. 6.The microcomputer 21 resets all the flags and turns the transistor Tr1on for applying the power source, whereby the power source is applied toeach of the circuits and at the same time the light measurement circuit23 starts the light measurement. The microcomputer 21 judges whether theswitch S1 is on or off. In case of off of the switch S1, the programgoes to the step #15 to perform the processes as mentioned above. Incase of on of the switch S1, the next focus detection routine and afurther routine following to the focus routine are executed from thestep #55. When the switch S1 is on, it is judged whether the auxiliarylight flag is set or not, and in case the flag is set, the auxiliarylight emitting device 33 is enabled as the auxiliary light mode is set,whereby emitting the auxiliary light in the step #65 and the programgoes to the step #70. In case the auxiliary light flag is not set, theprogram skips the step #65 and goe to the step #70.

The microcomputer 21 reads the time T₁ during which lapsed from thestarting of the last integration to the starting of the presentintegration by a timer TI and then the timer TI is reset to cause it tobe started in the step #75 and the integration is started in the steps#70 to #78. Then in order to detect the relative position of thephotographic lens, the microcomputer 21 reads a value CT1 of a counter(referred to as event counter hereinafter) representing the quantity tobe moved to the in-focus condition in the step #80. Subsequently it isjudged in the step #85 whether the flag for representing a mode whichneeds a long time for the integration is set or not and in case the longintegration flag is set, the program waits for 80 m seconds in the steps#88 and #90 and if the integration is not finished in 80 m seconds, theauxiliary light emitting device 33 is turned off and the program goes tothe step #110 through the steps #85 to #95. In case the long integrationflag is not set, regardless whether the is completed or not, after 20 mseconds passes, the program goes to the step #110 through # 105. Theintegration is completed when the quantity of the incident light into alight receiving element of a monitor for controlling the integrationperiod mounted near the CCD 29 becomes more than a predetermined value,but it has no direct relation with the present invention, theexplanation thereof is herein omitted.

In the step #110, the value of the event counter is read as CT2 in orderto know the relative position of the photographic lens at the time whenthe integration is ended. The microcomputer 21 dumps the data of the CCD29 and executes the calculation of the focus detection by using the dataof the CCD (#120 and #125). It is assumed that the value MI showing therelative position of the photographic lens in the center of the lastintegration is MIL and in order to know the relative position of thephotographic lens in the center of the present integration, the sum ofthe relative position CT1 of the lens at the beginning of theintegration and the relative position CT2 of the lens at the end of theintegration divided by 2, the value of which is assumed M1 (#130, #135).Next, the amount of the lens movement from the center point of the lastintegration to the center point of the present integration is calculatedbut it can not be obtained by the mere subtraction MIL-MI.

The reason is explained with reference to FIG. 7. In this graph thehorizontal axis shows the time and the vertical a is shows the amountsof the movement of the object on the film plane (see the curve a) and ofthe movement of the photographic lens (see the curve b). In FIG. 7 theintegration and calculation are done in terms of the movement of thephotographic lens. T1, T1' and T1" show the starting time of theintegration, and T2 T2' and T2" show the ending time of the integration,and T3', T3" show the ending time of the calculation, wherein T1' ≃T3and T1≃T3'. This is because the time necessary for the focus detectionis almost spent in the above mentioned integration, data dump andcalculation of the focus detection in the steps #60 to #125. As thevalue MIL showing the relative position of the photographic lens at thetime of the center point of the last integration I', there is used theresultant value of a division by 2 of sum of a first event counter valuerepresenting a first lens position at the time T1' of the startingperiod of the integration and a second event counter value T2representing a second lens position at the time of the integrationcompletion. The defocus amount from the object position RE1 is convertedinto the number of pulses generated by the encoder which is applied intothe event counter at the time T1' of the end of the calculation C" asthe result of the calculation C". The object position RE1 shows thedefocus amount from the focal plane at the center time period of theintegration I".

In the same way mentioned above, the defocus amount from the positionRE2 of the object is converted into the amount in terms of the number ofpulses of the encoder and the converted amount is inputted as the lensrelative position MI at the center time period of the presentintegration I. Hence, two different scales, one has an origin of theresult of the last integration and the other has that of the presentintegration, are included in the lens relative positions MIL and MI.Therefore, the value of MI1-MI does not show the correct amount of themovement of the photographic lens. Unless these two scales arecoincided, the correct value of the movement of the lens can not beobtained.

It is assumed that the compensation amount is expressed DT. Thecompensation amount DT is obtained by finding the remainder between thevalue CT3 of the event counter from the photographic position RE1showing the lens converted value LERR of the number of the pulses of theencoder from the value DF2' of the calculation result at this time. Thecalculation is as follows.

    DT=LERR-CT3

The amount ITI of the lens movement is obtained by the calculation thatthe above mentioned value DT is subtracted from the lens relativeposition MI at the center time period of the present integration and thesubtracted value is further subtracted from the value MIL of the lensrelative position. An equation of the above calculation can be expressedby IT1=MIL-(MI-DT). The microcomputer 21 executes the calculationmentioned above in the steps #140 and #145 in FIG. 2.

The microcomputer 21 reads out data from the ROM of the lens circuit 32in order to apply the data of the opened aperture value Av0 and theconversion factor (referred to as KL hereinafter) for converting thedefocus amount into the pulse number of the encoder. First, a chipselect terminal CS is made High level and a signal showing the startingof the communication of the data is generated and the variable N showingthe number of the data read out from the ROM of the lens circuit 32 isset 0 and a serial communication order is enabled in the steps #155 and#160. In response to this serial communication order, a clock signal isgenerated from the terminal SCK of the microcomputer 21 and the data isgenerated from the lens circuit 32 in a bit by bit manner synchronizedwith the rasing of the clocks. Synchronizing the negative edge of theclock signal, the microcomputer 21 reads the data through the terminalSIN and one time of the serial communication is completed by generatingeight pulses and the two kinds of the data mentioned above are appliedfrom the lens circuit 32 at the two times of the completion of theserial communication in the steps #165 and #170. When the application ofthe two kinds of the data is completed, the terminal CS of themicrocomputer 21 is changed to Low level from High level and thecompletion of the serial communication is transferred to the lenscircuit 32 in the step #175, then the program goes to the subroutine ofthe exposure calculation in the step #180.

The subroutine of the exposure calculation is explained with referenceto FIG. 8. The microcomputer 21 is supplied with a light measurementvalue Bv0 under the opened aperture value from the light measurementcircuit 23 and is applied with the film sensitivity data Sv from thefilm sensitivity automatic reading circuit 24 in the steps #2000, #2005.The exposure value Ev is calculated in the step #2010 using the lightmeasurement value Bv0, the film sensitivity data Sv and the openedaperture value Av0 as applied mentioned above. Next, the exposurecontrol mode is judged, and in case of P mode the aperture value Av isobtained by making the exposure value Ev 1/2 and the shutter speed valueTv is calculated by subtracting the obtained aperture value Av from theexposure value Ev in the steps #2015 to #2025, then the program returns.In case of A mode, the set aperture value Av is read and the shutterspeed value Tv is calculated by subtracting the set aperture value Avfrom the exposure value Ev in the steps #2030 to #2040, then the programreturns. In case of S mode, the set shutter speed value Tv is read andthe aperture value Av is calculated by subtracting the set shutter speedvalue Tv from the exposure value Ev and then the program returns in thesteps # 2045 to #2055. In case neither P nor S modes are not set, thatis in case of M mode, the set aperture value Av and the shutter speedvalue Tv are read in the steps #2060 and 2065 and then the programreturns.

The program goes back to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6 and when theexposure calculation is completed, it is detected from the result of thefocus detection and calculation whether the focus detection is possibleor not, and in case of the impossible detection the program goes to aLOWCON routine. In case the focus detection is possible, a low contrastflag LCF showing the focus detection to be impossible is reset and it isjudged whether the object is in low light condition (that is thebrightness of the object is lower than the predetermined value) in thesteps #185 to #195. Unless in low light condition the auxiliary lightflag is reset in the step #200, and in case of low light condition theprogram skips the step #200 and goes to the step #205 and the lensrelative position at the end of the calculation is read by the eventcounter. The pulse number of the encoder is calculated by multiplyingthe conversion factor KL with the defocus amount Δ ε obtained by thecalculation mentioned above. In case the pulse number of the encoder ispositive, the variable TD showing the present direction of the lensshift is set 1 and in case the pulse number of the encoder is negative,the variable TD is set 0 in the steps # 205 to #225.

Next, the program goes to the subroutine for precision check. In thefocus control device used in the present embodiment, there are provideda precision priority mode in which the focus precision is given priorityrather than the time for setting in-focus condition and the speedpriority mode in which setting of the photographic lens in the in-focuscondition is made fast rather than the focus precision in the focuscontrol. The speed of the lens control motor M with reference to thefocus control device is described below. In the precision checksubroutine, the above mentioned two modes are switched depending on thekind of the photographic lens attached to the camera and variousconditions at the time of photographing. There can be considered variouskinds of aspect as a precision check mode.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9(a), in case of the continuous advancemode, the speed priority mode is set because there are many cases of thefocus control for a moving object, and in case of the one shot mode, theprecision priority mode is set because there are many cases of the focuscontrol for a static object. As shown in FIG. 9(b), in case of A modethe precision priority mode is set because there are many cases of acorrect focus control for a static object such as a portrait, and incases of the exposure control modes except the A mode, the speedpriority mode is set. As shown in FIG. 9(c), in case the aperture value(F number) to be controlled is smaller than 1.7, the precision prioritymode is set because there are many cases of using a portrait as anobject, in case the F number is larger than 1.7, the speed priority modeis set because the depth of field of a lens becomes deep more or less.Any mode can be selected in case the minimum F number is nearly from F4to F5,6. As shown in FIG. 9(d), when the conversion factor KL forconverting the defocus amount into the encoder pulse number is large,that is in case the converting value of the defocus amount of thephotographic lens per a pulse number is small, the speed priority modeis selected because it takes a long time for the focus control, and whenthe conversion factor KL is small, the precision priority mode isselected because the precise focus control can not be done if the speedof the lens movement is too fast. In this case since the photographiclens is set in the in-focus condition by a few pulse numbers in theprecision priority mode, it takes a comparatively short time forfocusing.

As shown in FIG. 9(e), the program including the four cases mentionedabove is executed and the states of the judgement is shown in table 1.In this case, as to the selection of which modes of the precisionpriority mode and speed priority mode is to be used, such a mode thatmay be used more frequently is used. In case the frequency to be used isequal, the threshold of F number decides the priority. This is becausein the lens of small F number the depth of field is so shallow that evena small amount of lens defocus causes defocused photographs to beincreased.

Going back to FIG. 6(b), after the completion of the precision checkmode, it is detected in the step #235 whether or not the photographiclens is stopped by detecting the state of the motor driving signal. Incase the photographic lens is in the stopped condition, the program goesto the MFZ routine, in case the photographic lens is moving, the programgoes to the ID0BUN routine.

The MFZ routine is explained with reference to FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b).Upon memorizing the defocus amount Δε in the other variable Δε₁, andmultiplying the focusing zone amount ΔIF (40 μ) by the conversion factorKL, the focusing zone pulse number IFP is calculated. Next, the encoderpulse number CTC showing the amount of the lens movement from the centertime period of the integration to the end of the calculation is set to 0in the steps #240 to #250. Next, it is judged whether or not the encoderpulse number ERR (referred to as defocus pulse number hereinafter)showing the defocus amount Δε is smaller than 3 pulses. In case thedefocus pulse number ERR is smaller than 3 pulses, the present defocuspulse number ERR is used as the last defocus pulse number LERR and thepresent defocus direction TD is adopted as the last defocus direction LDand the focusing display is executed by setting the in-focus flag in thesteps #255 to #275. Then the flag AFEF showing the focus detectioncompletion is set and it is judged fro the condition of the switch S4whether the mode is continuous mode or not. In case of the continuousmode, the program goes to the CDINT routine beginning from the step #55shown in FIG. 6 and the focus detection is executed again. In case theone shot mode, the microcomputer 21 waits for the interruption and doesnot execute the focus detection.

In case it is detected in the step #255 that the defocus pulse numberERR is more than 3, it is judged in the step #290 whether or not thein-focus flag is set, and in case of setting the in-focus flag, it isjudged in the step #295 whether the defocus pulse number ERR is within apredetermined in-focus zone pulse number. In case the defocus pulsenumber is within the predetermined in-focus pulse number, the programgoes to the INFZ routine beginning from the step #260. In case it isdetected in the step #290 that the in-focus flag is not set, regardlessthe present defocus direction T₀ and the last defocus direction LD areinverted, the program goes to the subroutine of the near zone Ajudgement as described below, wherein in case it is judged the defocuspulse number ERR is not within the near zone (NZF™1), an one timepassage flag 1STF showing that the program has passed this routine onetime is reset in the steps #370 to #380 and the program goes to the step#295.

The subroutine of the near zone A judgement is explained with referenceto FIG. 27. The microcomputer 21 sets the defocus pulse number ERR to beERR1 and judges

whether the lens is stopped or not in the steps #3000 and #3005. In casethe lens is stopped, the program goes to the step #3015, and in case thelens is not stopped, upon subtracting the amount CTC of the lensmovement from the defocus pulse number ERR1 in the step #3010, theprogram goes to the step #3015, in which it is judged whether a trackingflag showing the tracking mode is set or not. In case the tracking flagis set, a near zone counter NZC showing the near zone value is set to 63in the step #3017 In case of non-tracking mode i.e., in case of thetracking flag is reset, the near zone counter NZC is set to 100 in thestep #3030 when the speed priority mode is set. The near zone counterNZC is set to 120 in the step #3025 when the precision priority mode isset. Then the program goes to the step #3035. In the step #3035 it isjudged whether or not the defocus pulse number ERR1 is smaller than thesetting count value NZC of the near zone counter, in case of smallerthan the count value NZC of the near zone counter, a near zone flag NZFis set in the step #3040 and in case of larger than the count value NZCof the near zone counter, the near zone flag NZF is reset in the step#3045 and the program returns.

In the present embodiment the range of the near zone may be changeddepending whether the speed priority mode or the precision mode isselected, however, in this case since the count value NZC of the nearzone counter has no relation with the speed control of the motor M, thecount value NZC may be constant such as 100.

Going back to FIG. 10(b), in case it is detected in the step #380 thatthe near zone flag NZF is set, when the defocus amount increases againstthe moving object, the program after the step #380 shows for revisingthis defocus amount and it is referred to as the tracking mode. In thestep #385 it is judged whether the one time passage flag 1STF is set. Incase the one time passage flag 1STF is not set, the flag 1STF is set inthe step #465 and the tracking flag showing the tracking mode is resetin the step #460 and the tracking compensation flag showing revising ofthe lens tracking is reset in the step #445, then the program goes tothe step #300. In the step #385, in case the one time passage flag 1STis set, it is judged in the steps #390 and #395 whether or not the lastdefocus direction LD is different from the present defocus direction TDIn case the defocus direction is different, that is, in case both of thedirection data are respectively (1, 0) or (0, 1), the program goes tothe step #460 and the tracking compensation at the time of the trackingmode is not executed. In case the last defocus direction LD is equal tothe present defocus TD, that is, in case both of the direction data are(0, 0) or (1, 1), the program goes to the step #400 and it is judgedwhether the tracking flag is set or not (#390 to #395 and #400). In thestep #400, in case the tracking flag is not set, the defocus amount WRis obtained in the step #430 by the calculation as follow,

WR=ERR-LERR+ITI

wherein WR is inclined value, ERR is present defocus pulse number, LERRis last defocus pulse number, ITI is lens movement amount. In case it isdetected in the step #435 that the inclined value WR is larger than apredetermined value AA that is, the defocus amount (defocus pulsenumber) is increasing, the tracking flag is set in the step #440, but inthe present embodiment since the inclined value WR is revised when thevalue WR becomes positive two times, the tracking compensation flag isreset in the step #445 so as not to be revised in the first time. Thepredetermined value AA is decided considering a noise component and maybe set 0 for the noiseless arrangement. In case the value WR is smallerthan the predetermined value AA, the defocus amount is not larger and isnot revised, then the program goes to the step #460.

In the step #400 in case the tracking flag is set, the value WR isobtained in the same way as in the step C>#430, and it is judged in thestep #410 whether or not the value WR is larger than the predeterminedvalue AA, in case the value WR is smaller than the value AA, thecompensation is not necessary since the photographic lens can track themovement of the object, therefore, the compensation value WR is made 0in the step #425 and the program goes to the step #300.

In case that it is judged in the step #410 that the value WR is largerthan the value AA, the program goes to the step #415, wherein it isjudged whether or not the value WR of difference from the last and thepresent calculation results is larger than the setting value AX which isset larger than the count value NZC of the near zone counter. The reasonwhy the value AX is set is that in the tracking mode, that is, when theobject is moving, the object is apt to get out of an area set for thefocus detection because of the movement of the object, and if the objectgets out of the area, the photographic lens is focused to the otherobject in the set area, therefore the value AX is set in order toprevent the above mentioned missing of the focusing. Therefore, in casethe compensation value WR is larger than the setting value AX, theamount of the lens movement is not renewed because the object of thetarget is getting out of the area set for the focus detection. In otherwords, in the step #415 in case the compensation value WR is larger thanthe setting value AX, a non-renew flag for inhibiting the renewal of thelens movement is set in the step #420 and the tracking hand, thecompensation value WR is less than the value AX, the non-renew flag isreset in the step #417 and the tracking compensation flag is set in thestep #419 and the program goes to the step #300.

In the step #295 in case the defocus amount Δε1 is not within thefocusing zone, the program goes to the step #300 and the in-focus flagshowing the in-focus condition is reset. Then the present defocus pulsenumber ERR is used as the last defocus pulses number LERR in the step#305 and the present defocus direction TD is used as the last defocusdirection LD in the step #310. And it is judged in the step #315 whetheror not the tracking compensation flag is set, in case of set of thetracking compensation flag, the new defocus amount is obtained by addingthe tracking compensation value 2WR to the defocus pulse number ERR inthe step #320 and the program goes to the step #335.

In the step #335 in case the tracking flag is set, the program goes to asubroutine of the calculation III shown in FIG. 11. In the subroutine ofthe calculation III it is judged whether the mode presently set in thecamera is the automatic focus priority mode or not, and in case of theautomatic focus priority mode, the time lag Td is set to 150 msec., andin case of the release priority mode, the time lag Td is set to 100msec. and the program goes to the step #2215. When the release button isdepressed to the second stroke and the lens movement is not 0(out-of-focus condition) under such a case that the shutter release isallowed, the value Td is the lens movement value which can be obtainedas follows.

    Td=release time lag (50 msec. )+TC(constant time)

The release time lag is decided depending on the structure of the camerain use. The constant time TC is set 100 msec. for the AP priority modeand is set 50 msec. for the release priority mode.

The reason why the value TC is changed depending on the respective modesis that since the AF priority mode is selected when the precise focusingfor the object is desired, it is desired the defocus amount is equal to0 by moving the lens as much as possible, therefore the lens is movedwith the constant time to be long. On the other hand, in the releasepriority mode since it is important that the shutter release can be doneat the instant that the operator of the camera desires a photographing,the constant time TC is made short.

In the next step #2215 the integration cycle T₁ is read and a rate R isobtained by dividing the value Td by the length of time T₁ of a cycleand the value R is multiplied by the compensation value WR in order toobtain the movement amount WS on the predetermined focal plane of theobject moving during the time Td (#2215, #2220). The defocus pulsenumber ERRT is newly obtained in the step #2225 by adding the defocuspulse number ERR to the movement value WS. It is judged in the step#2230 whether or not the AF priority mode is selected, in case of the AFpriority mode it is judged in the step #2245 whether or not the defocuspulse number ERRT is less than 148, and in case of the release prioritymode it is judged in the step #2235 whether the defocus pulse numberERRT is less than 100. In case the defocus pulse number ERRT is lessthan the set values 148 or 100, a tracking in-focus flag showing thein-focus condition in the tracking mode is set in the step #2240 and incase the defocus pulse number ERRT is more than the set values 148 or100, the tracking in-focus flag is reset in the step #2250 and theprogram returns. The set value mentioned above is explained in therelease mode as described below.

Going back to the step #340 in FIG. 10(a) it is judged from thecondition of the tracking in-focus flag whether or not the defocusamount is within the tracking in-focus zone, in case it is within thetracking in-focus zone, a flag AFEF showing the completion of the focusdetection is set in the step #345 and the in-focus display is effectedand the program goes to the TINNZ routine in the steps #335 to #350. Incase it is judged in the step #335 the tracking flag is not set, or incase it is detected that the defocus amount is not within the trackingin-focus zone in the step #340, the program goes to the step #355 and itis judged whether or not the defocus pulse number ERRT is within thenarrow in-focus zone as described below. In case the defocus pulsenumber ERRT is within the narrow in-focus zone, a narrow in-focus zoneflag is set in the step #360 and the program goes to the step #365. Incase it is detected in the step #355 that the defocus pulse number ERRTis not within the narrow in-focus zone, the program skips the step #360and goes to the step #365. In the step #365 it is judged whether or notthe defocus pulse number ERRT is within the display in-focus zone asdescribed below, in case of within the display in-focus zone the flagAFEF showing the completion of the focus detection is set and theinfocus display is done, and in case the defocus pulse number ERRT isnot within the display in-focus zone, the in-focus display is not doneand the program goes to the flow TINNZ. The in-focus zone is explainedas follows.

(1) In-focus zone (#295)

The area used in the conventional device and once the amount of the lensmovement necessary for the in-focus condition becomes 0 and in case theresult of the integration is within the area under the condition ofstopping of the photographic lens, the in-focus display is done.

(2) Display in-focus zone (#365)

This zone is wider than the in-focus zone shown in the item (1) and inthis zone the photographic lens can be precisely moved to the in-focuszone during the release time lag after starting of the shutter releaseoperation. In the present embodiment, the display in-focus zone is thedefocus amount corresponding to the pulse number 21, the defocus amountdepending on the property of the photographic lens attached to thecamera. In spite of the lens movement or stopping when the defocusamount becomes within the zone, the in-focus display is done and theshutter release is permitted in the AF priority mode.

(3) Tracking in-focus zone (#340)

This is the widest zone of all and shows the zone of the in-focusdisplay in the tracking mode and of permitting of the shutter release inthe AF priority mode. The photographic lens may not be reached to itsin-focus condition (the defocus amount is 0) when the photographic lenstracks the movement of the object in the tracking mode. However, in theAF priority mode of the prior art the shutter can not be released unlessthe photographic lens is stopped. The tracking in-focus zone is providedin order to prevent the above mentioned problem, and the value of thetracking in-focus zone corresponds to the amount of the release time lagand the movable value of the lens during the constant period. The valuementioned above is explained with reference to the flow of the releaseas described below.

(4) Narrow in-focus zone (#355)

This zone is almost similar to the in-focus zone of (1).

The reason why the narrow in-focus zone is provided is described asfollows. During the movement of the photographic lens in this narrowin-focus zone, the amount CTC of the lens movement from the center pointof the integration to the end of the calculation is subtracted from thedefocus pulse number. Though the defocus pulse number is regarded as thevalue at the center point of the integration, it may not be the centerpoint at the integration because of the change of the light, camerashaking and electrical noise. Therefore, even if the amount of the lensmovement is subtracted from the defocus pulse number, the correctdefocus amount may not ne obtained and even if the lens is moved as faras the defocus amount and stopped, the in-focus condition may not beobtained. In this case the lens must be moved again depending on theresult of the next focus detection and in the lens movement if thesimilar event takes place, the lens must be moved corresponding to thefurther next result of the focus detection, therefore, the lens does notstop by detecting the in-focus condition for ever. The narrow in-focuszone is provided in order to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned above.For this purpose, when the defocus amount is within the narrow in-focuszone, the focus detection is not executed and the lens is moved untilthe defocus pulse number becomes 0.

In FIG. 6(b), when the photographic lens is not stopped in the step#235, the program goes to the flow IDOBUN shown in FIG. 12.

In the flow IDOBUN in Pig. 12 it is judged whether or not the presentcalculated defocus direction is different from the last calculateddefocus direction in the step #430. In case the present defocusdirection is inverted, the lens is stopped in the step #455 and theprogram goes back to the flow C0INT below the step #55 shown in FIG.6(a) in order to execute the integration again. 0n the other hand, incase the direction of the lens movement is not inverted in the step #435in FIG. 12 the movement amount CTC of the lens moving from the centerpoint of the integration to the end of the calculation is calculated inthe steps #435, #440. The program goes to the subroutine of near zone Ajudgement as described below, and in case it is detected in the step#445 that the near zone flag NZF is set as the result of the judgementin the subroutine, the program goes to the step #460, and in case it isdetected in the step #450 that the near zone flag NZF is not set, thetracking flag is reset in the step #520. In the steps below #460 it isjudged whether or not the last calculated defocus direction LD is equalto the present calculated defocus direction TD, in case the samedirection, the program goes to the step #470 and the movement amount ITIof the lens moving during the period from the center point of the lastintegration to the center point of the present in egration is added tothe present defocus pulse number ERR and the value is subtracted by thelast defocus amount LERR, whereby the compensation value WR is obtainedthrough the steps #460 to #470, #515.

Next, it is judged in the step #475 whether the tracking flag is set ornot, and in case it is detected that the tracking flag is not set in thestep #475 and the compensation value WR is more than the predeterminedvalue AA, in the step #480 the tracking flag and the trackingcompensation flag are respectively set in the steps #485 and #490, andthe program goes to the step #300 in FIG. 14.

On the other hand, it is detected in the step #480 that the compensationvalue WR is less than the predetermined value AA, the trackingcompensation flag is reset in the step #495 and the program goes to thestep #300. In case the tracking flag is set in the step #475, it isjudged whether or not the compensation value WR is more than thepredetermined value AX (larger than the count value NZC of the near zonecounter), in case of more than the predetermined value AX, it isdetected that the photographic object is out of from the focus detectionarea and the nonrenew flag inhibiting the renew of the amount of thelens movement is set and the tracking compensation flag is reset and theprogram goes to the step #300 (#500, #505, #490).

In the step #500 in case the compensation value WR is less than thepredetermined value AX, the non-renew flag is reset and the trackingcompensation flag is set, and the program goes to the step #300(#500,#510,#490).

In FIG. 6(b) in case it is judged the focus detection is impossible inthe step #185, the program goes to the flow LOWCON in FIG. 13. In theLOWCON flow in FIG. 13 the microcomputer 21 judges whether the trackingflag is set or not, in case the flag is set, the non-renew flag is set(#520, #525). Then the microcomputer 21 judges whether the flag FIFshowing the one time passage is set or not, and in case the flag FIF isnot set, that is, in case of the one passage the flag FIF is set and thevariable N1 is set 0, and the program goes to the flow CDINT below thestep #55 in FIG. 6(a) (#530, #625, #630).

In the step #530 in case the flag FIF is set, it is judged whether thevaluable N1 is 2 or not by adding 1 to the variable N1, and in case thevariable N1 is not 2, the program goes to the CDINT routine below thestep #55 in FIG. 6(a), and in case the variable N1 is 2, the trackingflag and the non-renew flag are respectively reset and the program goesto the step #555 (#535 to #550).

In the steps #520 to #550, #625 and #630 since the defocus amount may beincreased suddenly or it may be judged that the focus detection isimpossible when the object is out of the focus detection area in thetracking mode, a countermeasure is devised for eliminating the problemsmentioned above. It means that even if the defocus amount is suddenlyincreased, so far as the focus detection is possible, the compensationvalue WR can be suddenly increased and then the program can be performedin the steps #500 to #510 in FIG. 12. On the other hand, in case it isjudged that the focus detection is impossible in the step #185 in FIG.6(b) the program goes to the flow LOWCON in FIG. 13. In case it isjudged the focus detection is impossible in the tracking mode, that is,in case the object is out of the focus detection area, the photographiclens is moved on the basis of the defocus amount calculated in the lastcalculation time without performing the usual focus detection processbeginning from the step #555. On the other hand, in the step #520 incase the tracking flag is not set, the flag FIF is reset and the programgoes to the step #555.

Below the step #555 the counter interruption, the timer interruption andthe ENTEVENT interruption are inhibited (#555 to #557). It is judgedfrom the output of the light receiving element disposed near the photodiode of CCD whether or not the reason of the judgement that the focusdetection is impossible is caused due to an extreme low brightness ofthe object. In case the low brightness is the reason of theimpossibility of the focus detection, it is judged whether or not theauxiliary emitting device 33 is mounted in the camera, and in case theauxiliary light emitting device 33 is mounted in the camera, theauxiliary light emitting mode is selected and it is judged whether aauxiliary light flag is set or not (#560 to #570). In case it isdetected in the step #570 that the auxiliary light flag is set, that is,in case the focus detection is impossible because of the low brightnessthough the auxiliary light is once emitted, the LOWCON display showingthe impossibility of the focus detection is executed and themicrocomputer 21 waits for the interruption to stop the focus detection(# 570, #585, #590). In case it is detected in the step #570 that theauxiliary light flag is not set, the auxiliary light flag is set and thelong integration flag showing the mode of long integration period isset, and the program goes to the flow CDINT for the focus detectionbelow the step #55 in FIG. 6(a). In case it is judged the brightness ofthe photographic object is not low in the step #560, or it is judged theauxiliary light emitting device 33 is not mounted in the camera in thestep #565, the LOWCON display is executed (#595). It is judged whether aflag LBF showing that the photographic lens should be moved in abackward direction towards the focal plane is set or not, and in casethe flag LBF is not set, an order for moving the photographic lens inthe backward direction is produced. On the other hand, in case the flagLBF is set, an order for moving the photographic lens in the forwarddirection is produced. and the command signal for driving the lensdriving motor M is generated, and the program goes to the flow CDINT forthe focus detection below the step #55 in FIG. 6(a) and the focusdetection is executed (#600, #605, #610, #615).

The flow of the control of the lens driving shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 isexplained. First the speed control of the lens driving motor M in theembodiment is explained. The lens driving motor M has five kinds of themotor speed consisting of an outside the near zone (out zone) speed,three kinds of speed in the nea zone and the step driving. The fivekinds of speed control of the lens driving motor M is executedcorresponding to the defocus pulse number in the precision priority modeand the speed priority mode respectively in the tracking mode or thenontracking mode. These five kinds of speed control are shown in Table 2as the revolution of the motor M such as 20,000 r.p.m. (out zone), 5,000r.p.m. (near zone 1), 2,500 r.p.m. (near zone 2), 1,000 r.p.m. (nearzone 3) and the step driving. The step driving is used only in theprecision priority non-tracking mode and the control of the lens can bedone precisely. The lens speed for the defocus pulse number in the nearzone is selected corresponding to the necessary speed for the focuscondition. The faster the revolution of the motor is, the worse is thestopping precision of the motor M apt to be. The speed control of themotor M in the sequence of the camera is explained as follows. First theflow TINNZ shown in FIG. 14 is explained. In the step #630 themicrocomputer 21 judges whether or not the lens is stopped. In case thelens is not stopped, it is judged whether or not the non-renew flagshowing the amount of the lens movement is not necessary to be renewedis set, and in case the non-renew flag is set, the amount of the lensmovement is not renewed and the program goes to the step #700 (#630,#635). In the step #630 in case the lens is stopped, the program goes tothe step #680 and the subroutine for judging whether or not the lens isin the near zone.

The subroutine for the judgement of the near zone is shown in FIG. 15.In the step #2300 the microcomputer 21 judges whether or not thetracking flag is set, and in case the tracking flag is set, the countvalue NZC of the counter showing the area of the near zone is set to 63,and in case of the non-tracking mode in which the tracking flag isreset, the count value NZC of the near zone counter is set to 100 incase of the speed priority mode and is set to 120 in case of theprecision priority mode, then the program goes to the step #2310 (#2300,#2305, #2325 to #2335). In the step #2310 it is judged whether or notthe defocus pulse number ERR is less than the set count value NZC of thenear zone counter, and in case the defocus pulse number ERR is less thanthe count value NZC of the near zone counter, the near zone flag NZFshowing the near zone is set, and in case the defocus pulse number ERRis more than the count value NZC of the near zone counter, the near zoneflag NZF is reset and the program returns (#2310 to #2320).

Then the program goes back to the step 190 685 in FIG. 14 and it isjudged whether or not the near zone flag NZF is set, and in case theflag NZF is not set, the value of the defocus pulse number ERRsubtracted by the count value NZC of the near zone counter is applied tothe event counter EVENTCNT (#685 to #690). The event counter EVENTCNTreduces 1 every time the pulse is sent from the encoder 31 shown in FIG.5 and executes the interruption INTEVENT showing the entering near zonewhen the count value of the counter becomes 0. When the application ofthe pulses to the event counter EVENTCNT is completed, the program goesto the subroutine of the event counter set (EVENTCNT set) and when thesubroutine of the EVENTCNT set is finished, the program goes to the step#700. The subroutine of EVENTCNT set is shown in FIG. 14 (b).

In the subroutine of the EVNETCNT set, the interruption INTEVENT by theevent counter is permitted and the timer interruption as described belowand the counter interruption (CNTR interruption) are inhibited, then theprogram returns (#2350 to #2360).

In case the non-renew flag is not set in the step #635 in FIG. 14(a) thedefocus pulse number ERR is subtracted by the movement amount CTC of thelens moving from the center point of the integration to the end of thecalculation and is used as the actual defocus pulse number necessary todrive the motor M and the program goes to the subroutine for thejudgement of the near zone as shown in FIG. 15 (#645, #650). In thesubroutine for the judgement of the near zone, in case the near zoneflag NZF showing the near zone is not set, the defocus pulse number ERRis subtracted by the count value NZC of the near zone counter and theresultant value is used as the count value EVENTCNT of the eventcounter, then the program goes to the subroutine of the event counter(EVENTCNT) set and goes to the step #700 via the subroutine (#655, #670,#675). In case the near zone flag NZF is set in the step #655 or #685,the defocus pulse number ERR is applied to a driving counter ENZCNT inthe step #660 and the program goes to the subroutine #665 of the timer Iset the details shown in FIG. 18 and after the completion of thesubroutine, the program goes to the step #700.

In the subroutine of the timer I set, the speed of the motor M isdecided corresponding to the defocus pulse number in the near zone withreference to each of the tracking mode, speed priority in thenon-tracking mode and precision priority as shown in Table 2. In thepresent embodiment the rotational speed of the motor M is controlled bysuch a way that the motor M is switched on or off whether the pulse issent from the encoder in the predetermined period to keep the constantspeed of the motor and said predetermined period is changed. The shorterthe predetermined period, the faster becomes the speed of the motor M,and the relation among the set time A1 of the timer corresponding to5,000 r.p.m., the set time A2 corresponding to 2,500 r.p.m. and the settime A3 corresponding to 1,000 r.p.m. is

    A1<A2<A3.

The detailed description of the subroutine of the timer I set shown inthe step #655 in FIG. 14 is explained with reference to FIG. 18. In thesteps #2400 to #2455 the timer is set for the motor revolution as shownin Table 2, and in the steps #2460 and #2465 the count interruption andthe timer interruption are respectively permitted and then the programreturns, wherein a2=61, a3=30, b1=31, b2=15,c1=79, c2=31. In case theflag STEPF showing the step driving mode is set in the step #2435, theprogram goes to

the step #2470. In the step #2470 it is judged whether or not thedriving of the motor M is stopped, and in case the driving of the motoris not stopped, it is judged whether or not the step driving flag STDRFshowing that the count interruption by the encoder pulse has beeneffected with the value of the driving counter for the step driving isset and in case the flag STPDRF is set, the flag STPDRF is reset and thetimer is set D1 (#2470 to #2485). On the other hand, in case the motor Mis stopped or the step driving flag STPDRF is not set, the flag STPDRFis set and the timer is set D2 (#2470, #2475, #24.90, #2495). Therelation between the two driving times D1 and D2 is D1<D2.

Going back to FIG. 14, the motor M is driven in the step #700. It isjudged whether or not the near zone flag NZF is set and in case the flagNZF is not set, a moving integration flag NI0F showing that theintegration is executed while the lens is moving is set (#705, #745).Next, it is judged in the step #750 whether or not the motor M isstopped and in case the motor M is stopped, the program goes to the step#735 after a short period of the starting time of the motor M in thestep #755. In case the motor M is driven, the program goes to the step#735 immediately. In the step #735 it is judged whether or not thedefocus pulse number ERR enters in a value corresponding to the narrowin-focus zone, and in case the defocus pulse number ERR corresponds tothe value for reaching teh narrow in-focus zone, the integration is notexecuted and the microcomputer 21 waits for the interruption in the step#740 in order to move the photographic lens the of the defocus amount.In case the defocus number ERR does not correspond to the value forreaching the narrow in-focus zone, the program goes to the flow CDINT ofthe focus detection below the step #55 in FIG. 6(a). In case it isdetected in the step #705 that the near zone flag NZF is set, theprogram goes to the flow WNZ3 and it is judged in the step #710 whetheror not the moving integration flag NI0F is set, and in case the movingintegration flag NIDF is not set, the program goes to the step #735. Onthe other hand, in case it is detected in the step #710 that the movingintegration flag NIDF is set, the program goes to the subroutine of thenear zone 3 judgement for judging whether or not the count value ENZCNTof the driving counter is within the defocus pulse number of the nearzone 3 (see Table 2).

The detailed description of the subroutine of the judgement of the nearzone 3 is explained with reference to FIG. 19. First, it is judged inthe step #2500 whether or not the tracking flag is set, and in case thetracking flag is set, the value of the count ENZCNT is judged in thestep #2505. In case the count value ENZCNT of the driving counter isbelow 15, the flag NZ3F showing the count value ENZCNT is within thenear zone 3 is set in the step #2510 and the program returns. In casethe count value ENZCNT is over 15, the flag NZ3F is reset and theprogram returns (#2500 to #2510, #2535). On the contrary the speedpriority mode in the non-tracking mode in case the count value ENZCNT ofthe driving counter is below 30, the flag NZ3F is set, and in case thecount value ENZCNT is over 30, the flag NZ3F is reset and the programreturns. In case of the precision priority mode in the non-trackingmode, in case the count value ENZCNT is below 31, the flag NZ3F is set,and in case the count value ENZCNT is over 31, the flag NZ3F is resetand the program returns.

Going back to FIG. 14, in case the near zone 3 flag NZ3F is not set inthe step #715, that is, in case the count value ENZCNT is not in thearea of the near zone 3, the program goes back to the step #712, and incase the count value ENZCNT is in the area of the near zone 3 and theflag NZ3F is set, the moving integration flag NIDF is reset in the step#720. Next, it is judged whether the tracking flag is set or not, incase the tracking flag is set or even if in case the tracking flag isnot set, the program goes to the step #735 when in the speed prioritymode (#725, #727). In case of the precision priority mode, the programrepeats the step #727 until the photographic lens is stopped namelyuntil the count value ENZCNT of the driving counter becomes 0. This isbecause the moving integration can not be executed correctly since thespeed of the step driving is not content in the precision prior.itymode.

The moving integration is explained with reference to FIG. 25. In FIG.25 the vertical axis shows the revolutions pf the motor and thehorizontal axis shows the time. In the upper portion of FIG. 25, thereis shown whether or not the moving integration is possible with respectto the motor condition. In the present embodiment, the movingintegration is inhibited in the period of decreasing the motor speedfrom 20,000 r.p.m. to entering the near zone 3, in the period of thestep driving, and in the period of the motor acceleration from thestopped state of the motor M to 20,000 r.p.m.. This is because theacceleration and the deceleration are not usually constant and thecenter point of the moving integration is not clear, therefore the manyerrors of the focus detection is occurred. On the other hand, when thephotographic lens is in the near zone that is in the period ofacceleration of the motor M in the near zone, since the motor revolutionis slow and the period of the acceleration is short and the error of thefocus detection is nearly equal to a few pulses of the encoder, even ifthe movement integration is executed, there does not occur any problemin practical use. Thus, in the present embodiment the moving integrationis for as long a period of time as possible and the necessary time forfocus controlling is made short.

Going to FIG. 14(c), the event counter interruption INTEVENT isexplained. The event counter EVENTCNT subtracts 1 from the count valueevery time the pulse is sent from the encoder 31. When the count valueof the eventcounter becomes 0, the program goes to the flow of theinterruption INTEVENT. In the flow of the interruption INTEVENT, theinterruption INTEVENT is inhibited and it is judged by a flag RESFwhether the operation of the camera is in the shutter release operation,and in case the flag RESF is set, the count value of the driving counterENZCNT is set to 40 and the program goes to the subroutine of the timerR set and the revolution of the motor is controlled (#2550, #2555,#2570, #2575). In the step #2555 in case the flag RESF is not set andthe camera release is not performed, the count value of the near zonecounter NZC is inputted as the count value of the driving counter ENZCNTand the program goes to the subroutine of the timer I set as describedbelow, and after the completion of the subroutine the near zone flag NZFis set and the program goes to the flow WNZ3 (#2560 to #2567).

The counter interruption (CNTR interruption) is explained with referenceto FIG. 16. The counter interruption is executed every time the pulse isgenerated from the encoder 31 shown in FIG. 5. In the flow of thecounter interruption, the microcomputer 21 subtracts 1 from the countvalue of of the counter ENZCNT and judges whether or not the count valueof the driving counter ENZCNT becomes 0 (#800 to #805). In case thecount value of the driving counter ENZCNT is not 0, it is judged in thestep #815 whether or not a step mode flag STEPF showing the step drivingis set, and in case the flag STEPF is set, the program goes to the step#835. In case the flag STEPF is not set, the program goes to the step#820 and in case the precision priority mode is not selected or in casethe count value of the driving counter ENZCNT is over 6 even if theprecision priority mode is selected, the step driving is omitted and theprogram goes to the step #840. Then is judged whether or not a flagTIPASF showing that the timer interruption is executed before thecounter interruption is set, and in case the flag TIPASF is set, theflag TIPASF is reset and the program returns. In case the flag TIPASF isnot set, the motor is turned off in the step #845. On the other hand, incase the precision priority mode is selected in the step #820 and thecount value of the driving counter ENZCNT is below 6, the program goesto the step #830 from the step #825 and the flag STEPF showing the stepmode is set in the step #830 and furthermore the step driving flagSTPDRF is set in the step #835 and then the motor M is turned off in thestep #845. Next, it is judged in the step #850 whether or not the flagRESF showing the start of shutter release operation is set, and in casethe flag RESF is set, the program goes to the subroutine of the timer Rset (#860) and in case the flag RESF is not set, the program goes to thesubroutine of the timer I and after the completion of the subroutine theprogram returns. The timer R set routine is explained in the explanationof the shutter release operation.

In the step #805, when the count value of the driving counter ENZCNTbecomes 0, that is, when the photographic lens is moved to the in-focusposition, the motor M is stopped in the step #870 and the step mode flagSTEPF is reset in the step #872 and the timer interruption and the countinterruption are inhibited in the steps #875 and #880. In case it isdetected in the step #885 that the release flag RESF is set, the programreturns, and in case the flag RESF is not set, the program goes to theflow DRIVED as described below.

In the flow DRIVED, it is judged in the step #895 whether or not thereis set a flag 1STDF showing that the program has been passed the DRIVEDroutina one time under such a condition that the count value of thedriving counter ENZCNT becomes 0 in the one shot mode, and in case theflag 1STDF is set, the program goes to the flow CDINT of the focusdetection below the step #55 in FIG. 6(a). In case the flag 1STDF is notset in the step #895, the program goes to the step #900 and it is judgedin the step #900 from the state of the switch S4 whether the continuousmode or the one shot mode is selected, and in case if the one shot modeis set, the in-focus flag is set in the step #910 and the flag 1STDPshowing the one time passage is set in the step #915 and the programgoes to the flow of the focus detection. In case the continuous mode isselected in the step #900, it is judged whether the tracking flag is setor not, and in case the tracking flag is set, the program returns andthe tracking ability is raised by using the data and by the continuousfocus detection. In case the tracking flag is not set, the program goesto the flow INFZ below the step #260 in FIG. 10(a) and the control ofthe in-focus display etc. is executed (#905).

The timer interruption flow is shown in FIG. 17. The timer interruptionis executed in case the pulse from the encoder is not transmitted in theperiod set in the routine of the timer 1 set. In FIG. 17 themicrocomputer 21 checks the flag RESF in the step #950 and judgeswhether or not the timer interruption is executed during the shutterrelease operation, and in case the shutter release operation is notperformed, the program goes to the subroutine of the timer I set in thestep #955 described below. In case the shutter release operation isperformed, the program goes to the subroutine of the timer R set in thestep #960.

The microcomputer 21 judges the flag STEPF and judges whether the stepmode is selected or not, and in case the step mode is not selected, theflag TIPASF showing the timer interruption has been executed is set andthe motor is turned on and the program returns (#965 to #975). In caseof the step mode it is judged whether the flag STPDRF showing the stepdriving is done is set or not, and in case the flag STPDRF is set, themotor is switched on and in cases the flag STPDRF is not set, the motoris switched off and the program returns (#975, #980, #985).

When the release button is depressed to the second stroke and therelease switch S2 is turned on during the focus detection or the focuscontrol, the signal to be changed from H to be L is applied to theterminal INT2 of the microcomputer 21 and the release interruption flowis executed as shown in FIG. 20(a). The microcomputer 21 judges whetherthe winding of the film is completed or not, and in case of thecompletion of winding the film, the release interruption and the APSinterruption from the step #45 in FIG. 6(a) are respectively inhibitedand the release flag RESF showing the release mode is set (#1000 to#1012).

When the winding of the film is not completed in the step #1000, it isjudged whether the release switch S2 is turned on or not, and in case ofthe switch S2 on, the program goes back to the step #1000 and waits forthe completion of the film winding. In case of the switch S2 off theprogram goes to the flow CDINT below the step #55 shown in FIG. 6(a).

When the release flag RESF is set in the step #1012, the interruptionINTEVENT for entering from the out is judged whether the near zone flagNZF is set or not. In case the near zone flag is not set in the step#1016, since the count value of the driving counter is not set, thecount value of the event center EVENTCNT and the count value NZC of thenear zone counter are added and the added amount is used as the countvalue ENZCNT of the driving counter and the program goes to the step#1025. In the step #1025 the state of the switch S6 is detected and itis judged whether the AF priority mode is selected or not, and in caseof the AF priority mode the program goes to the step #1110 and in caseof the release priority mode the program goes to the step #1030.

In case of the release priority mode, it is judged whether the trackingmode is selected or not, that is, whether the tracking flag is set ornot, and in case of the tracking mode the program goes to the subroutineof the calculation 1 in the step #1035. In the subroutine of thecalculation 1 during the release time lag (the period from the time ofswitch S2 on to the beginning of the actual exposure), the moving amountof the object is presumed and the presumed value is added by the defocusamount before the release mode is performed, whereby the defocus amountcan be obtained. The subroutine of the calculation I is shown in FIG.21.

In the subroutine of the calculation I shown in FIG. 21, the movementamount of the object in one of the focus detection period, in otherwords, the movement inclination of the object to the optical axialdirection in the unit focus detection period (defocus amount conversion)is calculated and the movement amount of the object moving during therelease time lag (defocus amount conversion) is obtained. In the step#2600, the release time lag RST is divided by the unit focus detectiontime T1 to obtain the rate R and the movement amount WS during therelease time is obtained by multiplying the movement amount WR of theobject in the unit time with the rate R. The amount is added to thecount value of the driving counter ENZCNT and the new count value of thedriving counter ENZCNT is obtained and the program returns (#2600 to#2610).

Going back to FIGS. 20(a) and 20(b), in case the tracking mode is notselected in the step #1030, the program skips the subroutine of thecalculation I and goes to the step #1036. It is judged whether or notthe count value of the driving counter ENZCNT is below 3, and in casethe count value is below 3, it is judged the camera is in the in-focuscondition and the motor is stopped and the program goes to the step#1190. In case the count value is over 3, the program goes to the step#1040 (#1136, #1137). In the flow below the step #1040 when the shutterrelease is permitted, the lens is driven during the release time lag. Inthe step #1040 it is judged whether the count value of the drivingcounter ENZCNT is below 13 or not, and in case the count value is below13, the flag e1F for making the motor revolution 1000 r.p.m. is set inthe step #1080 and the program goes to the subroutine of #1080 of thetimer R set as described below. In case the count value is over 13 andbelow 40, the program goes to the subroutine of the timer R set (#1045,#1090). In case the count value is over 40 and below 66, the flag e2Ffor making the motor revolution 5000 r.p.m. is set and the program goesto the subroutine of the timer R set (#1050, #1085, #1090).

The subroutine of the timer R set shown in FIG. 23 is explained asfollows. This is the subroutine for setting the timer which is used forsetting the motor revolution in the same manner as the subroutine of thetimer 1 set. In the step #2780 it is judged whether or not the AFpriority mode is selected, and in case of the AP priority mode theprogram goes to the step #2785 as described hereinafter. 0n the otherhand, in case of the release priority mode, it is judged whether or notthe flag e1F is set, and in case the flag e1F is set, the program goesto the step #2760 and the timer 1 is set to A3 (corresponding to 1000r.p.m.) and the timer interruption and the count interruption arepermitted in the steps #2765 and #2770 and the program returns. In casethe flag e1F is not set in the step #2705, it is judged whether or notthe flag e2F is set in the step #2710, and in case the flag e2F is set,the program goes to the step #2800 and it is judged whether the flagFe2F for revising the overshoot amount a1 at the time of stopping themotor is set or not, and in case the flag Fe2F is set, the timer 1 isset to A1 (corresponding to 5000 r.p.m.) in the step #2830 and theprogram goes to the step #2765. In case the flag Fe2F is not set in thestep #2800, the flag Fe2F is set in the step #2805 and an overshootshift value a1 is added to the count value of the driving counter ENZCNTin the step #2810, and the added value is used as the new count value ofthe driving counter ENZCNT and the program goes to the step #2830 andthe timer 1 is set to A1. The overshoot shift value α 1 is used on aground mentioned below. In case the photographic lens is moved by themotor M rotating at 1000 r.p.m., then the motor is stopped, theovershoot shift value or the offset of the photographic lens against thedesired position can be negligibly small. But in case the photographiclens is moved by the motor M rotating in 5000 r.p.m., when the motor Mis stopped, the overshoot shift value of the photographic lens againstthe desired position becomes too large.

The overshoot shift value may be peculiar to the rotation speed butindependent of the kind of the photographic lens, therefore by addingthe excessive shift value α 1 to the count value of the counter ENZCNT,the motor M can be turned off before the lens reaches the in-focusposition and the photographic lens ca be stopped correctly at thedesired in-focus position.

In case the flag e1F and the flag e2F are not set respectively in thestep #2705 and #2710, it is judged whether or not the count value of thedriving counter ENZCNT is over 100 in the step #2745 and in case thecount value is over 100, the count value of the driving counter ENZCNTis subtracted by 40 in the step #2730 and the resultant value is storedin the event counter EVENTCNT then the program goes to the subroutine ofthe event counter set (EVENTCNT set) in FIG. 14(b) and returns.

In case the count value of the driving counter ENZCNT is below 100 inthe step #2745, the program goes to the step #2750 and it is judgedwhether the count value of the driving counter ENZCNT is over 14 or not,in case the count value is over 14, the timer 1 is set to A1(corresponding to 5000 r.p.m.) in the step program goes to the step#2765. In case the count value of driving counter ENZCNT is below 14 inthe step #2750, the program goes to the step #2755 and it is judgedwhether or not the count value is over 4. In case the count value of thedriving counter ENZCNT is below 14 and over 4, the PG,66 timer 1 is setto A2 corresponding to the rotational speed 2,500 r.p.m. of the motor Mand in case the count value is below 4, the timer 1 is set to A3corresponding to 1,000 r.p.m. in the step 2760 and the timerinterruption and the count interruption are permitted respectively inthe steps #2765 and #2770 and the program returns.

Going back to FIGS. 20(a) to 20(c), in case it is detected in the step#1050 that the count value of the driving counter ENZCNT is over 66, thecount value of the driving counter ENZCNT can not be set 0 when themotor revolution is below 5000 r.p.m., therefore, the release time lagis increased a predetermined time (50 msec. in the present embodimentwhen in no AF priority mode) so that the motor M can be driven duringthe increased period. However, in the continuous advance mode, since itis desired that photographing is executed as fast as possible, thepredetermined time of the increase of the time lag is not provided inthe lens driving. Therefore, in the step #1055 the state of the switchesS8 is detected and it is judged whether the continuous advance mode isselected or not, and in case of the continuous advance mode, the programgoes to the step #1095. On the other hand, in case the consecutivephotographic mode is not selected, the program goes to the step #1060from the step # 1055 and it is judged whether or not the tracking modeis selected, and in case of the tracking mode the program executed thesubroutine of the calculation II in order to calculate the movementamount of the object in the predetermined period set in the step #1055and then goes to the step #1070. On the other hand, in case the trackingmode is not selected in the step #1060, it is judged the object isstopped and the program skips the step #1065 and goes to the step #1070and the timer is set corresponding to the count value of the drivingcounter ENZCNT in the subroutine of the timer R set and the lens ismoved for 50 msec. (#1060 to #1075).

The subroutine of the calculation II in the step #1065 is explained withreference to FIG. 22. In this subroutine, in the step #2650 it is judgedwhether the AF priority mode is selected or not, and in case of the AFpriority mode, the time TC is set 100 msec., and in case of the releasepriority mode, the time TC is set 50 msec and the time TC is divided bythe unit focus detection time T1 and in the step #2670 rate R ismultiplied with the defocus amount (count WR) of the object moving inthe period of the unit focus detection and the defocus amount WS of thetracking delay to the exposure is calculated, and in the step #2675 thedefocus amount WS is added to the count value of the droving counterENZCNT, whereby the new count value of the driving counter ENZCNT isobtained and the program returns.

In the step #1095 going from the steps #1055, #1075 or #1090, it isjudged whether or not the revolution of the motor M is low (below 5000r.p.m.), and in case the revolution of the motor M is not low (20,000r.p.m.), since the motor can not stop immediately even if the signal ofthe motor stop is generated, the signal of the motor brake is generated(#1095, #1100). The count interruption and the timer interruption areinhibited respectively in the step #1103 and #1107 and the program goesto the step #1190. In case it is detected in the step #1095 that themotor revolution is low, the program directly goes to the step #1190. Incase of the AF priority mode in the step #1025, it is judged in the step#1110 whether or not a flag AFEF showing the completion of the focusdetection is set and in case the flag AFEF is not set, the release flagRESF is reset in the step #1170 and the program returns.

In the present embodiment even if the focus condition is detected againafter the completion of the exposure, when the release button is beingdepressed, the shutter release operation is not performed and when therelease button is depressed again, the shutter release operation isperformed. However, in the arrangement that the release flag RESF is notreset in the step #1170, and in the next step of the step #250 it isjudged whether the release flag RESF is set or not, and in case therelease flag RESF is set, the program goes to the step #1115, therelease operation can be executed immediately after focusing of thelens.

In case the flag AFEF is set in the step #1110, it is judged in the step#1115 whether the tracking mode is selected or not, and in case thetracking mode is not selected, the program goes to the step #1190. Incase the tracking mode is selected, the distance of the object movingduring the shutter release time lag is calculated in the subroutine ofthe calculation I (.shown in FIG. 21) of the step #1120 and in case thecount value of the driving counter ENZCNT is below 13, the flag f1F forcontrolling the motor M with 1000 r.p.m. is set and the program goes tothe subroutine of the timer R set in which the timer for controlling themotor revolution is set and goes to the step #1190 (#1120, #1125, #1175,#1185). In case the count value of the driving counter is below 21 inthe step #1140, the program goes to the step #1190 through thesubroutine of the timer R set of the step #1185. In case the count valueof the driving counter ENZCNT is more than 21 in the step #1140, it isjudged in the step #1145 whether or not the continuous advance mode isselected and in case the continuous advance mode is selected, theprogram goes to the step #1190 in order to effect a photographingimmediately as described in case of the release priority mode. In casethe continuous advance mode is not selected in the step #1145, since theAF priority mode is selected, the movement of the lens is controlled forthe predetermined period (100 msec.) in order to move the lens to thein-focus position. That is, it takes 150 msec. of the amount of therelease time lag lens to the in-focus position. Since the tracking modeis selected at the time, the program goes to the subroutine of thecalculation II in the step #1150 and the necessary count value of thedriving counter ENZCNT is obtained. Then the program goes to thesubroutine of the timer R set and waits for 100 msec. in order tocontrol the motor revolution on the basis of the count value of thedriving counter ENZCNT (#1150 to #1165).

The operation of the AF priority mode under the timer R set is explainedwith reference to FIG. 23 as follows. In case of the AF priority modethe program goes to the step #2785 from the step #2780 and in case theflag f1F showing the revolution of 1000 r.p.m. of the motor M is set inthe step #2785, the program goes to the step #2760 and the timer 1 isset to the time A3 (corresponding to 1000 r.p.m.). In case the flag f1Fis not set in the step #2785, it is judged in the step #2790 whether ornot the count value of the driving counter ENZCNT is below 28, and incase the count value is not below 28, the timer 1 is set to the time A1(corresponding to 5000 r.p.m.). In case the count value of the drivingcounter ENZCNT is below 8, the program goes to the step #2760 from thestep #2795 and the timer 1 is set to the time A3 to control therevolution of the motor M to be 1000 r.p.m.. In case the count value isover 8 and below 28, the program goes to the step #2850 from the step#2795 and the timer 1 is set to the time A2 to control the revolutionrate of the motor M to be 2500 r.p.m..

The relation between the revolution rate of the motor M and the pulsenumber of the encoder and the necessary time for focusing the lens inrespective case of the AF priority mode and the release priority modeare shown in table 3. The summary of the relation between the revolutionof the motor M and the pulse number is described as follows. Since theAF priority mode is selected, so that the shutter release operation canbe executed when the photographic lens is moved to the in-focuscondition, the higher focus precision is necessary than in case of therelease priority mode and the time during which the motor is rotated1000 r.p.m. is made long so as to reduce the error of the stop positionby the inertia of the motor M.

In the AF priority mode the motor revolution of 20,000 r.p.m. is notadopted but the control method for monitoring the revolution of themotor is adopted so as to improve the focus precision.

On the other hand, in the release priority mode since a quick shutterrelease is more necessary rather than the precision of the focusdetection, thus the setting time of the motor driving in the shutterrelease is made shorter than in case of the AF priority mode.

Going back to FIG. 20(b), in the step #1190 the auxiliary light emittingdevice 33 is turned off and the display is turned off in the step #1195.The mirror-up starting signal and the aperture control signal aretransmitted to the exposure control circuit 22 and then the mirror-upoperation and the aperture control with the predetermined value Av areexecuted in the steps #1200 and #1205, then the program waits for thecompletion of the mirror-up operation in the step #1210. The time of themirror-up operation is nearly 50 msec. When the mirror-up operation iscompleted, the motor stopping signal is generated and the program waitsfor 10 msec. till the motor is stopped and the interruptions areinhibited and the exposure starting signal is generated and the runningof the first shutter curtain of focal plane shutter is started in thesteps #1215 to #1230. Then the exposure time Tv is measured and when theexposure time Tv is lapsed, the exposure ending signal is generated andthe program waits till the second shutter curtain is closed in the steps#1235 and #1240.

Next in FIG. 20(c), the microcomputer 21 generates the signal forstarting winding one frame of the photographic film and executes the oneframe winding operation of the film in the step #1243. Then it is judgedin the step #1245 whether or not the continuous advance mode isselected. In case the continuous advance mode is not selected, theterminal OP3 is changed to L level in order to prevent the continuousphotographing and the program goes to the step #1275. On the other hand,in case of the continuous advance mode, the terminal OP3 is changed to Hlevel in the step #1247 and the timer starting signal is generated inthe timer circuit 35 in FIG. 5. In case the in-focus flag is not set orthe lens is not in the in-focus zone, the counter interruption and thetimer interruption are permitted and the motor M is driven so as todrive the rest count value of the driving counter ENZCNT and the programgoes to the step #1275 through the steps #1255, #1265, #1270. In casethe AF operation is completed in this process, the program goes back tothe step #1275 from the step #885 again and loops the step #1275 shownin Pig. 20(c). In case the in-focus flag is set and the lens is in thein-focus zone, the in-focus display is executed in the step #1260 andthen the program goes to the step #1275 and waits for the mirror-down iscompleted.

When the mirror-down is completed, the signal for stopping the motor fordriving the lens is generated and the program waits for 20 msec. tillthe motor is stopped in the step #1285. The flags except the trackingflag are reset in the step #1290, and the release interruption ispermitted in the step #1295 and the program goes back to the flow CDINTbelow the step #55 in FIG. 6(a). However, the steps #1280 and #1285 arenot essentially necessary and the program may go back to the flow CDINTwith the lens driving.

In the present embodiment, in case the release button is continuouslydepressed when the continuous advance mode is set, the terminal OP3 ischanged to H level and the timer circuit 35 starts the time measurementand the signal for changing to L level after the predetermined intervalsis applied to the terminal INT4 of the microcomputer 21. When signalmentioned above is applied, the microcomputer 21 again the interruptionbelow the step #1297 in FIG. 20(a) and the L level signal is generatedfrom the terminal OP3 in the step #1297 in order to stop the timercircuit 35 and also the operation in the release flow beginning from thestep #1000 is executed in the same way mentioned above.

Next, the flow of the end terminal interruption is explained withreference to FIG. 24. This operation is executed when the photographiclens reaches the end terminal without detecting the sufficient contrastlevel for the focus detection during detection of the contrast of theobject with the photographic being driven under the low contrastscanning. For the detection of the end terminal, the switches S7 areprovided on both sides of the lens shiftable range and one of theswitches S7 is turned on when the photographic lens reaches the endterminal of either the closest focusing position or the infinitefocusing position and the signal changing to L level from H level isapplied to the terminal INT3 of the microcomputer 21, which executes theflow of the end terminal interruption in FIG. 24. In this flow, themotor M is stopped in the step #1350 and it is judged in the step #1355whether or not a flag LBF for shifting the photographic lens in thebackward direction is set, and in case the flag LBF is not set, it isdetected that the photographic lens reaches the end terminal of theprojected position, then flag LBF is set in the step #1360 and the motoris started in the reversed direction in the step #1365 and the programgoes to the flow CDINT in FIG. 6. In case the flag LBF is set in thestep #1355, it is detected that after the lens goes and returns onetime, the photographic lens reaches the end terminal, wherein thecontrast detection is impossible and the microcomputer 21 operates todisplay that the focus detection is impossible.

Although detail of the embodiment of the present invention is explainedwith reference to a preferred embodiment, various variations can be madeas described hereinafter.

(1) The stage of driving the photographic lens under the revolution of20,000 r.p.m. of the motor M may be omitted during the shutter releaseoperation in the release priority mode.

(2) A shutter release lock may be used in the AF priority mode in casethe count value of the driving counter ENZCNT does not become 0 for apredetermined time period.

(3) In the AF priority mode and the precision priority mode in theshutter release operation, the revolution of the motor M may be only1000 r.p.m. and the shutter release may be effected only in case thecount value of the driving counter ENZCNT is 0, that is, in case thecount value of the center ENZCNT is not 0, the shutter release is lockedso as to improve the focus precision.

The variations mentioned above is explained with reference to FIGS. 26(a) and 26(b) the different points of which are mentioned below.

The variation (1) is obtained by omitting the step #1095 to #1107 inFIG. 20(a). This is because the high speed revolution of 20,000 r.p.m.of the motor M is omitted. Moreover, the variation (1) is obtained byomitting the steps #2730, #2735 and #2745 in FIG. 23. This is alsobecause the high speed mode is omitted. Furthermore, the steps #2555,#2570 and #2575 in the flow INTEVENT are omitted.

The variation (2) is obtained as follows. There is a step #1155 betweenthe step #1150 and the step #1160 in FIG. 20(b) for judging whether ornot the count value of the driving counter ENZCNT is over 148. In casethe count value is over 148, the program goes to the step #1170 and therelease flag RESF is reset and the program returns. The count value 148is explained with reference to Table 3. Since it takes 60 msec. belowthe pulse number 28, the drivable time of 5000 r.p.m. of the motor is 90msec., the value of 150 msec. subtracted by 60 msec., and then thedrivable pulse number is 120 (=4/3×90) and the number 148 is obtained bythe calculation (120+28=148l ).

The variation (3) is obtained as follows. The step #1130 for judgingwhether the precision priority mode is set or not is provided after thestep #1125 in FIG. 20(b). In case of the precision priority mode theprogram goes to the step #1145 in order to inhibit the modes except 1000r.p.m.. Moreover, the step #1152 for judging whether the precisionpriority mode is set or not is provided after the step #1150, and incase of the precision priority mode the step #1153 for judging whetheror not the count value of the driving counter ENZCNT is below 40 (150msec.×4/15(1000 r.p.m.)) is provided, and in case the count value isbelow 40, the program goes to the step #1175 in order to set the flagf1F indicating the driving of 1000 r.p.m. and processes below the step#1175. In case the count value is over 40, the release flag RESF isreset in the step #1170 and the program returns. In case the precisionpriority mode is not set in the step #1152, the program goes to the step#1155 and executes the flow below the step #1155.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be notedhere that various changes and modifications will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes andmodifications depart from the scop of the present invention, they shouldbe construed as being included therein.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                                   F number    F number                                                          less than 1.7                                                                             more than 1.7                                          AF mode    value K     value K     AE Mode                                    ______________________________________                                        continuous mode                                                                          small   great   small great                                                   P.P.    P.P.    S.P.  S.P.  A mode                                            P.P.    S.P.    S.P.  S.P.  P mode                                                                        S mode                                                                        M mode                                 one shot mode                                                                            small   great   small great                                                   P.P.    P.P.    P.P.  S.P.  A mode                                            P.P.    P.P.    S.P.  S.P.  P mode                                                                        S mode                                                                        M mode                                 ______________________________________                                         P.P.--precision priority mode                                                 S.P.--speed priority mode                                                

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                                        defocus pulse number                                                          speed priority                                                         motor M speed         precision                                                                            priority                                zone     RPM          non tr.  tracking                                                                             non tr.                                 ______________________________________                                        out zone 20.000       101-     64-    120-                                    near zone 1                                                                            5,000         62-100  32-63   80-120                                 near zone 2                                                                            2,500        31-61    16-31  32-79                                   near zone 3                                                                            1,000         -30      -15    7-31                                   step                  /        /       -6                                     ______________________________________                                         non tr.--non tracking                                                    

                                      TABLE 3                                     __________________________________________________________________________    16 pulses per one rotation                                                     motor M RPM encoder pulse Num./msec                                          __________________________________________________________________________    1,000         4/15                                                            2,500        2/3                                                              5,000        4/3                                                              20,000       16/3                                                             __________________________________________________________________________    mode     AF priority      release priority                                    condition                                                                              pulse number                                                                         RPM time (msec)                                                                         pulse Num.                                                                          RPM time (msec)                               __________________________________________________________________________    e1F = 1                                                                       f1F = 1  ≦13                                                                           1,000                                                                             ≈49                                                                         ≦13                                                                          1,000                                                                             ≈49                               e2F = 1  /      /   /     ≦66                                                                          5,000                                                                             ≈50                               ENZCNT ≦4                                                                       /      /   /      ≦4                                                                          1,000                                                                              15                                       ENZCNT ≦8                                                                        ≦8                                                                           1,000                                                                              30         ↓                                      ENZCNT ≦13                                                                             ↓                                                                                ≦13                                                                          2,500                                                                             ≈29                               ENZCNT ≦21                                                                      ≦21                                                                           2,500                                                                             ≈50                                                                               ↓                                                      ↑                                                                                       ↓                                      ENZCNT ≦28                                                                      ≦28                                                                           ↑                                                                            60         ↓                                      ENZCNT ≦40                                                                             ↓                                                                                ≦40                                                                          5,000                                                                              50                                                       ↓                                                                                      ↑                                       ENZCNT ≦100                                                                            ↓                                                                                ≦100                                                                         ↑                                                                            95                                       ENZCNT >100                                                                                   5,000                                                                                         20,000                                        __________________________________________________________________________

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic focus control camera, comprising:(a)optical means; (b) light receiving means for receiving light passingthrough the optical means and converting the light into an electricalsignal; (c) defocus amount calculating means for repeatedly calculatingthe defocus amount for a predetermined focal plane of a photographiclens in the camera on the basis of the electrical signal generated bythe light receiving means; (d) an operable member to be operatedmanually for starting a photographing operation of the camera; (e) aphotographing operation control means for starting the photographingoperation of the camera in response to the manual operation of theoperable member; (f) first judging means for judging whether or not thecalculating defocus amount is within a first in-focus zone determinedfor discriminating an in-focus condition of the photographic lens; (g)second judging means for judging whether or not the calculated defocusamount is within a second in-focus zone, said second in-focus zone beingdetermined the addition of the first in-focus zone and an amount of thelens shifting caused during a time period from the manual operation ofthe operable member to an actual start of the photographing operation;(h) indicating means for indicating the in-focus condition of thephotographic lens when the second judging means judges that thecalculated defocus amount is within the second in-focus zone, and (i)lens shifting means for shifting the photographic lens in accordancewith the defocus amount calculated by the defocus amount calculatingmeans even in said time period.
 2. An automatic focus control cameraaccording to claim 1, wherien said indicating means includes means forindicating the in-focus condition of the photographic lens when thefirst judging means judges that the calculated defocus amount is withinthe first in-focus zone in the case where the lens shifting is stopped,and for indicating the in-focus condition of the photographic lens whenthe second judging means judges that the calculated defocus amount iswithin the second in-focus zone irrespective of the stoppage andshifting of the photographic lens.
 3. An automatic focus control cameraaccording to claim 2, further comprising means for interrupting thephotographing operation until the first judging means judges that thecalculated defocus amount is within the first in-focus zone, and meansfor permitting the start of the photographing operation when the secondjudging means judges that the calculated defocus amount is within thesecond in-focus zone.
 4. An automatic focus control camera of a type inwhich a photographing operation is interrupted until the in-focuscondition of a photographic lens is detected, comprising:(a) opticalmeans; (b) light receiving means for receiving light passing through theoptical means and converting the light into an electrical signal; (c)defocus amount calculating means for repeatedly calculating the defocusamount for a predetermined focal plane of a photographic lens in thecamera on the basis of the electrical signal generated by the lightreceiving means; (d) first lens shifting amount calculating means forcalculating a first lens shifting amount to be shifted for bringing thephotographic lens into its in-focus condition on the basis of thecalculated defocus amount; (e) first lens shifting means for shiftingthe photographic lens in accordance with the first lens shifting amountcalculated by the first lens shifting amount calculating means; (f) anoperable member to be operated manually for starting a photographingoperation of the camera; (g) a photographing operation starting meansfor starting the photographing operation of the camera in response tothe manual operation of the operable member; (h) second lens shiftingamount calculating means for calculating a second lens shifting amountwhich corresponds to a lens shifting amount to be shifted during a timeperiod from the manual operation of the operable member to an actualstart of the photographing operation; (i) means, operated in response tothe manual operation of the operable member, for comparing said secondlens shifting amount with a remaining first lens shifting amount to beshifted; (j) control means for controlling the photographing operationstarting means so that the photographing operation is started when theremaining first lens shifting amount is smaller than the second lensshifting amount, and that the photographing operation is inhibited whenthe remaining first lens shifting amount is larger than the second lensshifting amount, and (k) second lens shifting means for shifting thephotogrpahic lens in accordance with the remaining first lens shiftingamount during said time period.
 5. An automatic focus control cameraaccording to claim 4, further comprising moving object detecting meansfor detecting whether or not an object to be photographed is moving inaccordance with a plurality of defocus amounts calculated repeatedly,and third lens shifting amount calculating means for calculating a thirdlens shifting amount which corresponds to a defocus amount caused by themovement of the object during said time period, and wherein saidcomparing means includes means for comparing the sum of said second andthird lens shifting amount with said remaining first lens shiftingamount.
 6. An automatic focus control camera, comprising:(a) opticalmeans; (b) light receiving means for receiving light passing through theoptical means and converting the light into an electrical signal; (c)defocus amount calculating means for repeatedly calculating the defocusamount for a predetermined focal plane of a photographic lens in thecamera on the basis of the electrical signal generated by the lightreceiving means; (d) an operable member to be operated manually forstarting a photographing operation of the camera; (e) a photographingoperation control means for starting the photographing operation of thecamera in response to the manual operation of the operable member; (f)moving object detecting means for detecting whether or not an object tobe photographed is moving in accordance with a plurality of defocusamounts calculated repeatedly; (g) lens shifting amount calculatingmeans for calculating a lens shifting amount which corresponds to adefocus amount caused by the movement of the object during a time periodfrom the manual operation of the operable member to an actual start ofthe photographing operation, and (h) lens shifting means for shiftingthe photographic lens in said time period by at least said calculatedlens shifting amount.
 7. An automatic focus control camera,comprising:(a) optical means; (b) light receiving means for receivinglight passing through the optical means and converting the light into anelectrical signal; (c) defocus amount calculating means for repeatedlycalculating the defocus amount for a predetermined focal plane of aphotographic lens in the camera on the basis of the electrical signalgenerated by the light receiving means; (d) an operable member to beoperated manually for starting a photographing operation of the camera;(e) a photographing operation control means for starting thephotographing operation of the camera in response to the manualoperation of the operable member; (f) judging means, operable inresponse to a manual operation of the operable member, for judgingwhether a remaining defocus amount is smaller than a predeterminedamount; (g) lens shifting means for shifting the photographic lens, and(h) control means for controlling said photographing operation startingmeans and said lens shifting means in accordance with a result of saidjudging means, so that the lens shifting means is operated in apredetermined time period and thereafter the photographing operationstarting means is operated when said judging means judges that theremaining defocus amount is larger than said predetermined amount, andthat said photographing operation starting means is immediately operatedin response to the manual operation of the operable member when saidjudging means judges that the remaining defocus amount is smaller thansaid predetermined amount.
 8. An automatic focus control cameraaccording to claim 7, further comprising means for interrupting thephotographing operation until the calculated defocus amount indicatesthat the photographic lens is in in-focus condition, and means formaking said control means operate when the calculated defocus amountindicates that the photographing lens is in in-focus condition inresponse to the manual operation of said operable member.
 9. Anautomatic focus control camera, comprising:(a) optical means; (b) lightreceiving means for receiving light passing through the optical meansand converting the light into an electrical signal; (c) defocus amountcalculating means for repeatedly calculating the defocus amount for apredetermined focal plane of a photographic lens in the camera on thebasis of the electrical signal generated by the light receiving means;(d) an operable member to be operated manually for starting aphotographing operation of the camera; (e) a photographing operationcontrol means for starting the photographing operation of the camera inresponse to the manual operation of the operable member; (f) lensshifting amount calculating means for calculating a lens shifting amountwhich corresponds to the defocus amount during a time period from themanual operation of the operable member to an actual start of thephotographing operation; (g) lens shifting means for shifting thephotographic lens in said time period by at least said calculated lensshifting amount, and (h) control means for controlling saidphotographing operation control means so that the actual photographingoperation is started after a termination of a shifting operation of saidlens shifting means.